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With spring finally underway and the long lazy days of summer tantalizingly close we all look forward to packing away our winter coats and soaking up some well deserved sunshine.

But this year, please take a few moments to apply the advice given below by Leading Skin Cancer Surgeon Paul Banwell from McIndoe Surgical centre in East Grinstead before you step outside.

Summer isn’t just about shedding the layers of clothes and basking in the longed for heat – it’s also about protection. Everyone should be aware of the simple ways in which to protect themselves and their family from the damage sunrays can cause if we expose ourselves with no protection. Skin cancer is on the increase and is no respecter of age or culture.

Tips from Paul Banwell:

– Sun awareness is vital and really does have an effect.
– Avoid the midday sun (between 11am and 3pm).
– Apply liberal amounts of sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30+.
– Wear a hat, loose clothes (tightly woven) and sunglasses.
– The face and neck are the areas most commonly affected by sun damage, so be sure to apply sunscreen to lips, ears, around eyes, neck and scalp if your hair is thinning.

What should we look out for?

Look out for new or existing moles that are darkly pigmented, change in colour and/or size, have an irregular outline and itch, bleed or crust. If you are unsure or concerned that you may have one or more of these symptoms, visit your GP. He or she will examine your skin and would be able to refer you to a Plastic Surgeon with a specialist interest in skin cancer.

If you would like to book a consultation or a Mole Check, please visit: mcindoesurgical.co.uk

Britons still found ways to perk up during (arguably the worst period in) the recession, according to the latest audit figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.baaps.org.uk), the not-for-profit organisation established for the advancement of education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit. The number of surgical procedures in 2010 showed a slow but steady rise of 5% from 2009 to a total of 38,274. The most impressive statistics have been recorded specifically in breast augmentation (up 10%), facelifts (up 12%) and a whopping increase of 28% in gynaecomastia or ‘man boob’ ops –now the second most common procedure among males.

Skin cancer is now the commonest cancer in the world. There are essentially two different types: non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and melanoma. The latter is less common, but has the highest death rate and it can affect younger people. The lifetime risk of developing skin cancer in Australia is one in three, compared to about one in 40 in the UK. While the incidence of skin cancer in the UK is significantly less than Australia, our death rates are higher and the number of people who have skin cancer in this country is expected to dramatically increase in the next decade. Raising awareness is therefore vital, as early prevention and diagnosis is the key to successful treatment. Getting a tan is no longer cool and the attitude ‘it won’t happen to me ‘ just doesn’t cut anymore – for instance, in Kent and Sussex we have seen an alarming trend in skin cancers affecting the younger age-groups. Changing behavior and educating parents and their children is therefore vital.

Join me on Thursday, May 12 for an educational evening on Cosmetic Surgery. I will be holding an informational talk at The Brew House in conjunction with the Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital. Come along to learn more about breast augmentation, breast reduction, labiaplasty, body contouring surgery and much more. For more information, contact Hannah or Caroline at The Spire Tunbridge Wells on 01892 741150.